PH gov't cannot regulate 'Momo Challenge' – DICT
By CNN Philippines Staff
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) on Thursday said it cannot regulate the apps involved in the potentially deadly "Momo Challenge" spreading online.
"We have no jurisdiction over them. Ang servers nila, ang operations are outside our country. Ang ginagawa namin, we have close coordination with Facebook, Google, and YouTube kung may lumalabas doon that are cybercrime in nature. Pinapa-takeout and they respond," DICT Secretary Eliseo Rio Jr. told CNN Philippines.
He added they have no plans of blocking Facebook and YouTube in the country, like how China bans certain apps and social media platforms as part of its censorship policy.
"The only way to do a block is to have all the content, the servers in our country. Katulad ng ginagawa ng China, wala silang Facebook at Google... But do we like that?" he told CNN Philippines.
"Momo Challenge" is a game played on messaging app WhatsApp, Facebook, and YouTube. It allegedly encourages children and teenagers to do specific tasks, with challenges starting small like waking up in the middle of the night. It then progresses to more dangerous and violent challenges, such as self-harm and suicide.
Related: PNP warns against potentially deadly 'Momo Challenge'
DICT, the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group and National Bureau of Investigation, are jointly investigating the reported case of an 11-year-old boy from Quezon City who allegedly died after joining the challenge.
"Chineck nila 'yung cellphone, nandoon 'yung 'Momo Challenge.' This became a part of a cybercrime investigation, if the cause of death is through this application" Rio said.
Police warned those encouraging self-harm can be held criminally liable.
YouTube said it hasn't seen any recent evidence of videos promoting the 'Momo Challenge" on YouTube. Rio added the challenge first emerged in 2018, but authorities are still taking precautionary measures.
"Actually dito sa ating bansa hindi pa gaano ka-widespread, pero it has been in Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Europe, India, and sa Mexico since August 2018 pa," the secretary said.